Anthology of American Folk Music
Volume 1: Ballads, Track 14
MY NAME IS JOHN JOHANNA
Kelly Harrell and the Virginia String Band 
Recorded Camden, NJ: March 23, 1927
Kelly Harrell, vocal; Posey Rorer, fiddle; Raymond D. Hundley, banjo; Alfred Steagall, guitar
Originally released on Victor 21520A
(alternate title: The State of Arkansas)
Singer Crockett Kelly Harrell (1889-1942) was from the Southern Virginia town of Fieldale, and like many others in the area, he worked off and on in the textile mills. Harrell was one of the finest singers to come out of the region. At various times, Harrell sang with the Virginia Ramblers, the Virginia String Band, and recorded with West Virginian Henry Whitter. Both the Virginia Ramblers and Virginia String Band included fiddler Posey Rorer, who was better known for his tenure in Charlie Poole's band. Harrell did not play an instrument so he always needed to hire a band. As economic times worsened at the end of the 1920s, the Victor company tried to persuade him to pick up an instrument to limit the expense of hiring backup musicians. Harrell refused and never recorded again. He died working at the mill from an asthma attack at age 52.
This song is better known as "The State of Arkansas" and it dates back to the minstrel show era (Old Time Music #2, Autumn 1971).
FOR ADDITIONAL RECORDINGS OF HARRELL:
See Kelly Harrell and the Virginia String Band (CTY 408a) and the Complete Kelly Harrell Vols. 1-3 (BF 15508-15510a), and the collections Virginia Traditions: Ballads from British Tradition (BRI 002a); Virginia Traditions: Native Virginia Ballads (BRI 004a); Collection of Mountain Ballads (CTY 502a); Collection of Mountain Songs (CTY 504a); Mountain Sacred Songs (CTY 508a); Old Time Ballads from the Southern Mountains (CTY 522a); Rural String Bands of Virginia (CTY 3502c); Old-Time Mountain Ballads (CTY 3505c); Cotton Mills and Fiddles (Flying Cloud 014a); Early Rural String Bands (RCA 552a); and Native American Ballads (RCA 548a).
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON HARRELL: see Old Time Music 2 (Autumn 1971).
OTHER RECORDED VERSIONS INCLUDE:
Traditional American Folk: as The State of Arkansas: George Tucker (RND 0064a).
Folksong revival: as The State of Arkansas: Almanac Singers (General 21b); Ed McCurdy (ELK 112a); Pete Seeger (SFW CD 2501c); Rosalie Sorrels (GL 1024c); The Weavers (VG 147/50c, VG 9043a)).
Country/String Band: as State of Arkansas: Wayne Erbsen (Native Ground 002c); The New Lost City Ramblers (VG 77011c); as Uncle Dave's Travels, Part 1: Uncle Dave Macon (MCA 10546c)
.
Bluegrass: as The State of Arkansas: Earl Taylor and the Stony Mountain Boys (RR 242a).
